Miekkailija ‘The Fencer’ Wins the Jussi for Best Film – Here Are the Highlights of the Finnish Film Awards

The producers of ‘Miekkailija (The Fencer)’ posing from left to right: Kai Nordberg, Kaarle Aho and Jörg Bundusch. Märt Avandi, the lead actor of the film, smiling on the right at the YLE studios in Pasila, Helsinki on March 19 2016. Picture: Tony Öhberg for Finland Today

Miekkailija (The Fencer), directed by Klaus Härö, grabbed the Jussi Award for the best film and cinematography. Congratulations! In our opinion, it’s the best Finnish film in a decade.

Actress Krista Kosonen. Picture: Tony Öhberg for Finland Today

“The message of the film (Miekkailija) is very important. Today, Finland and Europe is filled with people in bad positions and they need help. I hope that this film will help people to understand that now is the time to reach out for the fellow human being,” said Kai Nordberg, one of the producers of Miekkailija, while holding the statuette of gypsum at the stage of YLE studios in a direct broadcast on Saturday evening.

“The people who have arrived in Finland and other countries, should be treated with compassion and love. In that way, the country will also be better for us to live in.”

“The people who have arrived in Finland and other countries, should be treated with compassion and love. In that way, the country will also be better for us to live in.”

Miekkailija is the only film in the history of Finnish film, which has been selected in the Oscars’ shortlist and was also a nominee for the Golden Globe Award.

Other highlights of the Jussi celebrations included Krista Kosonen winning the award for the best actress in her phenomenal leading role in Kätilö.

Kosonen herself couldn’t attend the ceremony because she is advancing her career in the US.

Tommi Korpela. Picture: Tony Öhberg for Finland Today

Tommi Korpela, a Finnish film trouper, grabbed the award for the best actor in a leading role in Häiriötekijä. This was the third Jussi of his career.

The award for best directing went to Aleksi Salmenperä also for Häiriötekijä, and the popular comedy received still another award for editing.

The prize for the audience favourite went to Luokkakokous, a crazy comedy directed by Taneli Mustonen in the spirit of the popular Hollywood film Hangover (2009).

Documentary

Jussi Awards celebrates the best achievements within Finnish cinema. The awards are given by Filmiaura, an association of Finnish film professionals. The Jussi Awards cover altogether 15 categories. The first Jussis were given in 1944 and it’s one of the oldest film awards in Europe. The trophy, designed by sculptor Ben Renvall, is made of gypsum and depicts a nude man with a hat.

Jussi Award. Picture: Tony Öhberg for Finland Today

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Editor-in-Chief at Finland Today. I write a lot and lurk in the shadows with my camera, afraid to blink because I could miss the decisive moment. If I am not working in the field, I am negotiating deals for FT.